Do You Love Me? Abide In My Love!

We're told to love our neighbor as ourselves. Sometimes that can be really hard to do. You may have a neighbor who just gets under your skin all the time, and you just don't like to be around them. It could be someone you work with, or you keep running into at the gym. There are many passages in the Scripture that deal with what God expect from us when it comes to love.

[Love Your Fellow Man and Woman]
First Jesus tells us what has been said, then what He says. How and who we are to love.
Matthew;5:43(You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy') This saying came from what was said in the Old Testement.
Leviticus;19:18(You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.)
Going back to Matthew, Jesus put a higher standard on this saying.
Matthew;5:44-45(But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.)
We are told these things for a purpose. It's easy to do good to those who do good to us and love those who love us, but what about the people who don't care for us?
Matthew;5:46-48(For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.)

[Abide In God's Love]
If you wonder how we are to do this, Jesus tells us.
John;15:9-10("As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Fathers commandments and abide in His Love.")

[Fruit From Abiding]
John;15:1-2("I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.")
We can do nothing on our own.
John;15:4-5(Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.)

[Consequences Of Not Abiding]
If we love Jesus we will want to stay close to Him. If we don't do this, the Scriptures tell us what will happen to us and what will be our future.
John;15:6(If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.)

[How Long Will You Last In The Fire]
You may be saying what fire is He talking about? We are told that all who do not accept Jesus as their Savior will end up in hell. You might just think that you will be thrown into the fire and be burned up and that is all there is to it. But the Scriptures don't say that.
Matthew;25:41(Then He will say to those on the left hand,'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels;)
Another passage proves tells us of how bad it will be.
Luke;16:23-24(And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.')

[Taking The Mark Of The beast]
We are told that in the tribulation period, you will be required to take the mark of the beast in order to do business. There will be severe consequences for taking the mark.
Revelation;14:9-11(Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.")

Give your life to Jesus before it is too late. Get on your knees and admit you are a sinner, ask Jesus to forgive you and come into your heart and save you.

God Bless You!